TAO presents programs are held regularly in more than 60 facilities throughout Hampton Roads – nursing homes, hospitals, family homeless shelters, dependent care day programs, crisis programs, assisted living facilities and more. These programs:

• Have the potential to help reduce staff turnover & attract quality staff
• Help staff connect culturally with patients, families and other staff members from diverse cultures
• Specific arts activities can ensure that people leave a legacy, and create a lasting expression
• While the arts cannot cure, they can help heal
• The programs also provide artists with stipends for their work, feedback and program support, a creative challenge and new audiences and participants for their work.

Tidewater Arts Outreach programs last anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes; they typically average just under an hour. Programs range from music ensembles or individual musicians presenting a variety of genres; visual arts, drumming, poetry, storytelling and songwriting workshops; beginner guitar instruction, dramatic readings, “Mommy and Me” music and arts workshops and many types of dance. We create programs based on our artists’ talents and what dependent care locations are looking for. Our surveys ask facility staff, volunteers and clients to rate program quality. We use this information to monitor and enhance program quality.